EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Softball split a Sunday doubleheader against No. 7 Pearl River at Lady Bengal Field in another matchup of ranked opponents for the Bengals.  No. 13 LSUE (10-3) has already played seven games against NJCAA ranked teams this year.
 
It was a classic pitching duel to start the twinbill with LSU Eunice fighting back late to take a 3-2 eight inning battle against the Wildcats.  The Bengals would face an early deficit in game two, nearly coming back before falling 8-4 to close out the day.
 
LSUE is back at home next weekend for a three-way against National Park and Bossier Parish CC.  The Bengals play National Park at 12:00PM on both Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22, followed by 5:00PM games against Bossier Parish CC.
 
Game 1 vs. Pearl River CC – W, 3-2
LSU Eunice won a classic pitching duel 3-2 in eight innings to start its Sunday doubleheader against Pearl River.  Both pitchers threw complete games while combining for just one extra base hit.
 
The two teams would swap runs in the fourth and sixth innings with Makinley Harris (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs HS) and Zoey Smith (Choudrant, LA, Choudrant HS) bringing in Payton Prince (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) both times to tie the game after the Wildcats scored in the top half of the inning.
 
The Bengals would take their first lead of the game in the eighth inning when they would walk off on a bases loaded walk.  Makinzey Elisar (Prairieville, LA, St. Amant HS) started the frame with one of her team-high three base hits before an error and walk would load the bases.  Smith brought home Elisar by working a walk for the win.
 
Emily Rachal (Bossier City, LA, Airline HS) tossed her second straight complete game to improve to 4-1 on the season.  The freshman worked around 10 hits and three free passes.  She struck out six batters.
 
Game 2 vs. Pearl River CC – L, 4-8
The Bengals surrendered three early home runs and a rally attempt would fall short as LSUE fell 8-4 in the Sunday finale.
 
PRCC jumped out to a 5-0 lead after hitting three long balls.  LSUE would fight right back, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the third inning, headlined by a Mya Lanoux (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) RBI single.
 
LSUE would threaten with at least two runners on in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings.  Pearl River extended its lead to 8-4 going into the final frame before the Bengals loaded the bases with just one out.  A ground ball, however, squashed the threat with a game ending double play.
 
Jordan Stanley (Houston, TX, Clear Lake HS) led the LSUE offense with a two-hit game, scoring a run and driving in a run.